Wire-stretcher



H. W. MALLETT.

WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11.19.11.

Patented Mar. 16,1920.

Inventor Hammond WJZaZ Zett UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAMMOND W. MALLETT, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IIAMMOXD \V. Man LE'lT, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Diego, in the county of San Diego and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vire- Stretchers, of which the following is a specr fication.

My invention relates to wire stretchers more particularly adapted for stretching wire for fences, and the objects of my invention are: First, to provide a wire stretcher that stretches the wire tight so that the wire may be secured to the post upon which the stretcher is supported so that there is no slack in the wire; second, to provide a wire stretcher of this class by the use of which the Wire can be stretched as tight as desired regardless of its length without having to secure the wire and take several holds on the same to take care of the slack; third, to provide a wire stretcher of this class which is simple and economical of construction, durable, easy to operate, easy to control, and will not readily deteriorate or get out of order; and fourth, to provide a wire stretcher of this class which is strong enough to stretch the wire to a breaking point if desired.

\Vith these and other objects in view as will appear-hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claim, reference being had to the accom- Similar characters of reference referto similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The shaft 1, support 2. collar 3, drum 1,

ratchet pawl 5, crank 6, band 7 and chain 8 constitute the principal parts of my wire stretcher.

The support 2 is preferably a metallic piece, flat on one side 2 so that said support will fit against one side of the post. This support 2 is provided near its opposite side WIRE-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented [313 16, 1920,

Application filed July 11, 1917. Serial No; 179,820.

with a hole therein adapted for a bearing for the shaft 1 in which the shaft 1 is journaled. Secured to said shaft 1 is a collar 3 adapted to rest against the support on one side. Secured to said shaft on the opposite side of said hearing from the collar 3 is the drum 4. The flange l" of said drum is provided in its outer edge with ratchet teeth 41 and said support 2 is cut away approximately the thickness of the outer edge ofthe flange at to permit the flange of the wheel to revolve in said cutaway portion and provides an over-hanging portion upon which the spring pawl 5 issecured, the free end of said spring engaging the ratchet teeth 4 on the drum 4 for holding the drum in certain position as it is turned. The other flange 4 of said drum is provided with a notch r adapted for securing the wire therein and when the drum 4 is turned, the

wire winds on the drum t thus tightening the wire. Each end of theshaft 1 is tapered and preferably rectangularly shaped at 1 and the crank 6 is provided with an internally tapering socket 6 adapted to conform to the ends of the shaft 1 so that said crank may be fitted on either end of said shaft 1, so that the shaft 1 may be turned from either end as desired to suit the convenience of the operator. In some cases where a very large post is used it .might be preferable to use the crank next to the drum while in most cases it would be preferable to use the crank on the opposite end. This crank 6 is provided with a handle 6 to facilitate' its turning.

Mounted on the shaft 1 adjacent the long end of said shaft isv a band 7 which fits into a groove in said shaft and secured to this band 7 is a chain 8 which is preferably of suflicient length to reach to the next post for supporting thelong end of the shaft in stretching the wire.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement but desire to include in the purview of my invention, the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claim.

It is obvious that with this construction there is provided a wire stretcher for stretching wire for fences in which the wire may be secured to the post against which the stretcher is supported so that the Wire is stretched tight and secured thereto Without any slack inthe wire, Ihatthe Wire being wound on the drum provides means for taking up the slack and formaliing the Wire as tight as desired Without the necessity of talging several holds of th e. Wire. That the stretcher is supported by the support 2 contacting" with the post and the oppositeend by a chain secured to the next post for to another post or a stake driven inthe ground for the purpose; and that the device as a Whole is very simple and economical of construction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim "as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

in a Wire stretcher, the combination of a post engaging journalblockgfa shaft journal'edin' said journal block provided with a groove near its opposite end and said shaft having square tapered ends, a drum secured to said shaft resting against the one side of said journal block and'provided with ratchet teeth on one flange 'of said'drum and with mean i9 s curing missile f e w to be, stretched in the other flange of saiddrum, a collar on said sh afit resting against the opposite side of said journal box from said drnrn, a spring ratchet pawl secured to said journal box engaging said ratchet teeth wl iereby said drum and said shaft may be turned in one direction but prevented from turningv in the opposite direction, a band in which the groove of said shaft is revolubly mounted, a chain secured to said band eX- tending some distanceadapted to be secured to another post infline with the Wire to be stretched and passing on the opposite side of said first mentioned post from the side on ivhich the Wire is stretched and a handle confiorming to the square send ofsaid shaft adapted to be readily connected to either end-of said shaftfto suit the convenience of the operator. 7

In testimony whereoflhave hereuntoset my hand at San Diego, California, this 5th day of July, 1917. l

HAMMOND W. MALLETT. 

